The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 39, September 30, 2007, Article 12

RARE BOOK SOUGHT: THE DOWNFALL OF COFFEE-PENCE, 1672

Philip Mernick writes: "Robert Thompson who, with Michael Dickinson,
is cataloguing the massive Norweb Collection of British & Irish 17th
century tokens is looking for a copy of this extremely rare
publication:  'The Downfall of Coffee-Pence...', London: Phil.
Brooksby, 1672.

(Philip Brooksby, free of the Stationers' Company 1670, flourished
until 1697). Quarto, described from the Harleian library [1747?],
and not seen since. Probably sold by the bookseller Thomas Osborne
between 1742 and 1748).

It is not recorded by Wing in any library! It is possible that the
Harleian copy has found its way to the USA. If anyone knows of the
whereabouts of this, or any other copy, Robert would very much like
to hear."

[A search on Google Books returned just one reference to this title,
an entry in 'A Bibliography of Finance' edited by Mitsuzo Masui
(vol 1).  Originally published in Kobe in 1935, the bibliography was
reprinted by Burt Franklin in 1969.

"The Downfall of coffee-pence: or, a true and perfect account of
the short life, deserved death, and desired burial of coffee-pence
and half-pence: with the sad lamentation of their owners, on their
changing them for silver: in pursuance of his majesties gracious
proclamation, published the 19th of this instant August, 1672."

What a marvelous find this would be!  Can anyone help locate this
title, or tell us where else to look?  -Editor]

Philip adds: "I wonder if E-sylum readers can suggest other examples
of numismatic publications known to have been printed but have no
copies recorded, even in museums and national libraries."

[My thoughts exactly - I'm sure there are other such titles.
Could we compile a "most wanted" list of missing numismatic
titles?  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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